No. As design was nearing completion, consultants did a thorough noise study based on INDOT’s noise policy, which was updated in June 2011. While the study revealed a noise barrier would be feasible, it did not meet the minimum standards to be considered reasonable. For more details, click here. To review the study, click here.

The Indiana General Assembly directed the Indiana Department of
Transportation (INDOT) to study the transportation corridor between
Indianapolis and South Bend. Currently, INDOT has opened US 31 through Howard, Marshall and St. Joseph counties, and is developing the section of the corridor in Hamilton County.

Upgrading US 31 to freeway standards greatly improves
the safety of the corridor – reducing the number of crashes and rear-end
collisions caused through turning movements and increased traffic –
especially between Lakeville and South Bend.

The accident rate for a freeway is lower than that for a non-freeway facility, such as the existing US 31 corridor. By
diverting traffic onto the new US 31 freeway, there will be a decline in the number of crashes in the corridor.

Bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited from traveling on limited access roadways; however, shoulders on both sides of
roads intersecting the freeway will be wide enough to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian access.

That depends on the destination and/or preferred route; going to
the new Kern Road interchange and heading north is one option that
should provide the quickest access to Ireland Road, but it is possible
that motorists will choose to use the existing Kern Road connection
between US 31 and Miami Road.

INDOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan includes projects 25 years in the future. The US 31 segment through Howard County opened in 2013. The section through Hamilton
County will be completed before or by 2015. Other
segments will be determined as the Long Range Plan is updated.